Where are they now? A comprehensive list of past players

Posted by Detective RDS on April 29, 2009

It's very promising that this year in the Faithwear Cup & Logan Cup many players have returned in Zimbabwe. The likes of Brendan Taylor, Sean Williams, Mark Vermeulen, Charles Coventry, Douglas Hondo, Brighton Mugochi, Prince Masvaure, Tarasai Mahlunge.

The return of these players will boost the domestic teams and the standard of domestic cricket, even with the return of some of them will boost the Zimbabwean national side as well.

Yet, there are many players who are engaged in playing club cricket in foreign leagues and even some of the players are out of cricket or retired from cricket too.

Let's have a look at the players who are not currently available for Zimbabwean national team.

International players

1. Andy Blignaut (Age 30): Blignaut left ZC in 2005 as he wasn't paid and refused to play for Zimbabwe. He is now self employed (Probably in South Africa).

2. Sean Ervine (Age 25): Sean Ervine left ZC in 2004. He is currently playing for HAMPSHIRE CCC in UK. Now has a British passport. He is qualifying for England.

3. Anthony Ireland (Age 24): Ireland resigned after 2007 World Cup. He is currently playing for GLOUCESTERSHIRE CCC in UK.

4. Terrence Duffin (Age 26): Duffin quit ZC in 2008. He is currently playing club cricket for NORTHLAND CC (NZ) & WINSLEY CC (UK).

5. Dion Ebrahim (Age 28): Ebrahim resigned from ZC in 2006. He is currently playing club cricket as the captain of STONY STRATFORD CC (UK) & TARANAKI CC (NZ).

6. Gavin Ewing (Age 28): Ewing resigned from ZC in 2005. He is currently playing/coaching club cricket for CARRICKFERGUS CC (IRE) & TARANAKI CC (NZ).

7. Neil Ferreira (Age 29): Ferreira left ZC in 2005. He is currently playing club cricket for NORTHLEACH TOWN CC (UK). He also works at Rendcomb College in England, coaching Cricket, hockey and rugby, coaching the 2nd XV.

8. Travis Friend (Age 28): Friend left ZC in 2004. He is currently playing club cricket for CASTLETOWN CC (UK). He is also training to be a professional pilot in UK.

9. Richard Sims (Age 29): Sims left ZC in 2005. He is currently playing club cricket for SWARDESTON CC (UK). He also coaches cricket, hockey and rugby at Norwich School, working as a batting and bowling coach.

10. Brian Murphy (Age 32): Murphy quit Zimbabwe after World Cup 2003. He is currently playing/coaching club cricket for SWARDESTON CC (UK). He is a registered player in East Anglian Premier Cricket League.

11. Ryan Higgins (Age 21): Higgins last played First Class cricket in 2006. He is currently playing club cricket for CHIPPENHAM CC (UK).

12. Gregory Strydom (Age 25): Strydom last played official cricket in 2008. He has played this year club cricket for ONERAHI CENTRAL CC (NZ).

13. Piet Rinke (Age 28): Rinke last played official cricket in 2006. He is currently playing club cricket for SCARBOROUGH CC (UK).

14. Keegan Meth (Age 20): Meth last played First Class cricket in 2008. He is currently playing club cricket for WANDERES CC (SOU). He is also seeking for club for English season.

15. Waddington Mwayenga (Age 24): Mwayenga last played official cricket in 2006. He is currently playing for WORCESTERSHIRE CCC 2ND 11 (UK). He has spent the last winter in Australia playing club cricket.

16. Tinashe Panyangara (Age 24): Panyangara last played official cricket in 2005. He has played club cricket for BARKISLAND CC (UK) last year.

17. Barney Rogers (Age 26): Rogers left ZC in 2005. He is now self employed in Zimbabwe.

18. Douglas Marillier (Age 30): Marillier left ZC in 2005. He is now working in the Real Estate in Zimbabwe.

19. Heath Streak (Age 35): Streak quit Zimbabwe in 2005. He is now playing unofficial cricket for AHMEDABAD ROCKETS (ICL). He also works in his family business in Zimbabwe.

20. Trevor Gripper (Age 34): Gripper left ZC in 2005. He is employed in Zimbabwe and runs a business. He also plays cricket in a social league in Zimbabwe just for fun.

21. Henry Olonga (Age 32): Olonga resigned in 2003 citing death of democracy in Zimbabwe (together with Andy Flower). He is now a singer and musician in UK. He also plays for LASHINGS WORLD 11 (UK).

22. Pommie Mbangwa (Age 32): Mbangwa was released by ZC to take up a commentary post with Super Sport in South Africa. He is now a commentator of Super Sport. He has also briefly performed the coaching role but ended it in 2005 to commit full-time to his TV career.

23. Murray Goodwin (Age 36): Goodwin left Zimbabwe in 2000. He is currently playing for SUSSEX CCC in UK and unofficial cricket for AHMEDABAD ROCKETS (ICL).

24. Grant Flower (Age 38): Grant Flower quit Zimbabwe in 2004. He is currently playing for ESSEX CCC (UK).

25. Brighton Watambwa (Age 31): Watambwa left Zimbabwe in 2002. He is currently living in USA and playing club cricket in Florida.

26. Gary Brent (Age 32): Brent quit Zimbabwe in 2008. He is now self employed. He wants to qualify as a coach. So, he left on happy terms and is in UK.

27. Stuart Carlisle (Age 36): Carlisle quit Zimbabwe in 2005. He now works in his family business in Zimbabwe and probably plays cricket in a social league in Zimbabwe.

28. Craig Wishart (Age 35): Wishart quit Zimbabwe in 2005. He is self employed in Zimbabwe.

29. Guy Whittal (Age 37): Whittal announced his retirement after World Cup 2003 at the age of 31 to concentrate on his family's game-ranch business. He is also professional hunter in Zimbabwe.

30. Everton Matambanadzo (Age 33): Matambanadzo left Zimbabwe in 2001 and emigrated to USA. He is now involved in the business world in San Francisco.

Domestic players

31. Bradley Staddon (Age 24): Staddon last played official cricket in 2008. He has played for EDENROSKILL CC (NZ).

32. Ryan Butterworth (Age 28): Butterworth last played official cricket in 2007. He is currently playing club cricket for WHITEHAVEN CC (UK). Now he has a British passport.

33. Kudakwashe Samunderu (Age 21): Last played official cricket in 2006. He has played cricket for CAPETOWN CC (SOU) last year and currently engaged in THE SPORTS SKILLS FOR LIFE SKILLS (SS4LS) in South Africa.

34. Tinashe Ruswa (Age 24): Last played official cricket in 2004. He is currently playing club cricket in South Africa and also engaged in THE SPORTS SKILLS FOR LIFE SKILLS (SS4LS) in South Africa.

35. Tendai Mashonganyika (Age 20): He has played 5 List A matches in 2008. He is currently playing club cricket for UNITED WORLD COLLEGE CC (SOU).

36. Hughes Dinemira (Age 18): Dinemira has gone to play in the South African Academy in Johannesburg.

37. Daniel Landman (Age 19): Landman has gone to study at Kent University in the UK.

38. Justin Gaisford (Age 19): Gaisford has gone to study at the University of Western Australia.

39. Ian Nicolson (Age 22): Nicolson last played official cricket in 2008. He is currently playing club cricket in the Premier Division in Cardiff in UK. In winter season, he will play club cricket in Australia.

40. Gary Ballance (Age 19): Ballance has signed a three year deal with YORKSHIRE CCC (UK) in 2008 after impressing for the second XI and currently playing for Yorkshire.

41. Craig Ervine (Age 23): Craig Ervine last played First Class cricket in 2005. He is currently playing club cricket for LISBURN CC (UK).

42. Colin De Grandhomme (Age 22): Grandhomme left Zimbabwe in 2005. He is currently playing First Class cricket for AUCKLAND (NZ). He is now qualifying for New Zealand.

43. Greg Lamb (Age 27): Lamb left Zimbabwe and joined Hamshire CCC (UK) in 2004. He was released by Hampshire last year. He is currently playing club cricket for WILTSHIRE CCC (UK). He is also assisting in the Colts training sessions of PORTSMOUTH CC (UK).

44. Jemton Chinyengetere (Age 23): He last played official cricket in 2008. He is currently playing club cricket in South Africa.

45. Gerald Aliseni (Age 21): Aliseni played official cricket last year in Zimbabwe. He is currently playing club cricket in South Africa and has also got trials for HIGHVELD LIONS (SOU) a few months ago.

46. Kyle Jarvis (Age 20): He hasn't made his FC cricket debut by now. He is studying and playing for PRETORIA UNIVERSITY (SOU). It is hoped that he will return in Zimbabwe when his graduation is over.

47. Ryan Ervine (Age 20): Ryan Ervine is yet to make his First Class debute. He has played for CARRICKFERGUS CC (IRE) last year as a player/coach. He is currently playing club cricket for LISBURN CC (UK).

48. Stephan Marillier (Age 24): He is yet to make his First Class debut. He has played for DERBYSHIRE CCC 2ND 11 (UK) last year. He is now in UK and plays club cricket in Warwickshire every summer.

Worth noting that, there are many promising and experienced players who are not currently available for the national selection. It is hoped that some of them will return in the cricket action of Zimbabwe as nowadays things are really changing quickly in Zimbabwean Cricket.

Thank you to Detective RDS for putting a lot of work into compiling this comprensive list of players.